Bridge for doorways of cattle-cars



(No Model.) `2 Sheelns-Sheet l. B. C. HICKS. BRIDGE FOR DOORWAYS 0F CATTLE GARS. I No. 429,760. Patented June l0, 1890.

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(No Model.)

B. CQHIGKS. BRIDGE POR DOORWAYS OF CATTLE GARS. No. 429,760;

Patented June l0, 1890.

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BOHN CHAPIN HICKS, OF MINNEAPOLIS,'ll/IINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE HICKS STOCK CAR COMPANY, OF VEST VIRGINIA.

BRIDGEHFOR DOORWAYS OF CATTLE-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,760, dated J une 10, 1890. Application tiled May 20,1889. Serial No. 311,423. (No model.)

To all whom, tm/ay concern:

Be it known that I, BOHN CHAPIN HICKS,a citizen of the United States, residing at Flinneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable Bridges for the Doorways of Cattle-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cattle-cars; and it io consists in an adjustable gang-plank supported upon the caropposite its doorway-openings and adapted to be projected across the space between the cars and the loading or unloading platform to form bridges or gangplanks for the support of the animals when passing to or from the cars, as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation 2o of a portion of a cattle-car, including one of its doorway-openings,with one of myimproved gang-planks or bridge-frames attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan View in section on the line oc of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line y y of Fig. l, showing` the gangplank or bridge-frame withdrawn. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the gang-plank or bridge-frame projected outward, as it will be when in use. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar 3o to Figs. 3 and 4, showing different adaptations of the device. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and l0 are views similar to Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4, but on a larger scale, illustrating some modications in the construction and adaptations.

3 5 A is the door-frame; A2, the side frame; A3, one of the doorway-openings, and AtL a section of one of the platforms to or from which the cattle are transferred, these parts being of the usual construction. Attached to the side of 4o the door-frame opposite the doorway-openin gs is a hanger-frame B, behind and by which the gang plank or bridgeframe D is supported, as shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, 7, S, and 9.

The gang-plank or bridge-frame D may be formed in one or more pieces, as preferred. In Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 5 it is shown formed in one piece strengthened by straps a and with hand-holes a2, by which it may be elevated and drawn outward, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6,

5o and 10. Then not in use, it simply rests in the hanger B entirely out of the way of the door or other parts, and does not interfere in any manner with the operations of the car, and then when it is to be used it is only necessary to raise it up and draw it outward, with 5 5 its upper or outer edge resting on the platform A4, as in Figs. 4 and l0, in which position it forms a gang-plank for the passage of the animals to or from the car.

Another important function ot' the gang- 6o plank is that when raised bodily upward, as in Fig. 5, it forms a gate or bar across the lower part of the doorway opening. This function will be found very useful in connection with double-deck stock-cars, as the gates across the lower parts of the doorway-openings prevent the escape of the animals from the lower deck, while t-he main door is open for the discharge of animals from the upper deck.

Any suitable'means may be employed to secure the gang-plank in place when employed as in Fig. 5; but for the purpose of illustration I have shown simple catches b, which are adapted to retire into the frame of the car when not in use and be drawn outward to catch over the upperedge of the gang-plank and hold it in its upright position when required.

The outer ends of the straps a will be pro- 8o vided with spurs as, adapted to catch into the platform A4 to support and hold the outer edge of the gangplank, while its inner edge will be held in place by short chains a, the latter serving the double purpose of a holdback7 to keep the rear edges of the gangplank in position, as in Fig. 10, but also to prevent the removal of the gan g-plank from the car.

The gang-plank may also be constructed in 9o the form of a exible belt or plate, as in Figs.

G, 7, S, 9, and lO, with the body portion D formed in two or more parts c c2 and with the straps d jointed at a5, as shown.

It frequently happens that the space between the sides ofthe car and the platforms A4 is very narrow, and when this occurs of course the gan g-pl ank may be correspondingly narrow; hence the flexible construction shown in Figs. G, 7, 9,and l0 maybe advantageously 10o employed under such circumstances, as only one portion of the gang-planks c e2 need be employed, as in Fig. G. The adjacent edges of the slats e e2 next the ear-frame when the plank is withdrawn, as in Fig. 7, and the upper edges when the plank is projected, as in Fig. l0, will be in close proximity, while the remainder of the contiguous surfaces will be cut away, as shown in Fig. 10, so that while the plank is flexible or free to bend in one direction to secure the requisite Hexibility itis prevented from bending in the other direction by the edges of the parts e. e2 coming in contact with each other.

The joints d5 in the straps d will be close fitting, so that no end-play will occur, and if the plank e' e2 be supported at its ends, with the adjacent edges of the joints uppermost, it will be inflexible, as illustrated in Fig. l0, and forma rigid bridge between the car and platform A".

As many of the slats e e2 may be employed as required; but generally two will be suilicient, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new isl. A stock-ear havin a hanger-frame B suspended below its doorway-opcning, in oombination with a gang-plank D, supported with in said hanger-frame and adapted to be projected outward to form a bridge between said car and the loading or unloading platform for the passage of the cattle, or elevated to form a gate across the lower part of the doorwayopening, and provided with chains a",where by its removal is prevented and its motion limited, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a stock-car having ahanger-frame B attached thereto below the doorway-opening, the combination therewith of a gang-plank formed of two or more sections flexibly con nected and adapted to be projected to the loading or unloading platform to forman adj ustable bridge for the passage of the animals, and provided with chains a" to connect it to the ear and limit its movement,substantially as and for `the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BOHN CI-IAPIN HICKS.

"Witnesses:

C. N. WooDWARD, Il. S. WEBSTER. 

